MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SCIURUS. 157 



Esse nt. Char. — Intermediate in size between the Sciurus cinereus and 

 Sci. leucotis ; body above, a mixed grey and black; ears long; tail very 

 broad. 



In a number of Museums both in England and on the con- 

 tinent, I have observed squirrels labelled with the above 

 name, but which must be referred to the varieties of other 

 species. The only genuine specimen that has come under 

 my notice is the one now existing in the Philadelphia Muse- 

 um, and which was, I believe, brought by Say, the original dis- 

 coverer. Having at present no access to my notes with a de- 

 scription of this species made two years ago, I am obliged to 

 copy the original description of Say, which I found, on com- 

 parison, to be very accurate. I regret, however, that T am 

 unable to annex an interesting account of the habits of this 

 species, which was communicated to me by Mr. Peale. 



" The body above, and on each side, is of a mixed grey 

 and black ; the fur is plumbeous, black at base, then pale 

 cinnamon colour, then black, and finally cinereous, with a 

 long black tip ; the ears, f of an inch long, are behind of a 

 bright ferruginous colour, extending to the base of the fur, 

 which, in the winter dress, is prominent beyond the edge ; 

 on the inside of the ear the fur is of a dull ferruginous hue, 

 slightly tipped with black ; the sides of the head and orbits 

 of the eyes are pale ferruginous : beneath the ears and eyes 

 the cheeks are dusky ; the whiskers are composed of about 

 five series of rather flattened hairs, the inferior ones are more 

 distinct ; the mouth is margined with black ; the teeth are of 

 a reddish yellow colour ; the under part of the head and neck, 

 and the upper part of the feet, are ferruginous ; the belly is 

 paler, the fur being plumbeous at base ; the tail is of a bright 

 ferruginous colour below, and this colour extends to the base 

 of the fur with a sub-marginal black line ; on its upper part 

 it is ferruginous and black; the fur within is of a pale cinna- 

 mon colour, with the base and three bands black ; the tip is 

 ferruginous ; the palms of the fore feet are black, and the m- 

 dimental thumb, which is very short, is covered by a broad 

 flat nail. 



" The fur of the back in the summer dress is from -§- to -^ 

 of an inch long ; but in the winter dress the longest hairs of 

 the middle of the back are from 1 inch to 1| in length ; this 

 difference in the length of the hairs, combined with a greater 

 portion of fat, gives to the animal a thicker and shorter ap- 

 pearance, but the colour continues the same ; and it is only 

 in the latter season that the ears are fringed, which is the ne- 

 cessary consequence of the elongation of the hair. This spe- 



